China Horse Club and SF Bloodstock Dominate Fasig-Tipton

The offerings of The November Sale’s star-studded catalogue shone at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, KY. With a catalogue billed as featuring “quality on every page,” Fasig-Tipton’s premier breeding stock event exceeded the expectations of buyers, consignors, and management. Bolstered by a deep international buying bench and the selected sale’s North American supporters, this year’s November Sale posted gains across the board.

“This is a special sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “When you have special horses to sell, at the end of the night, you have pretty special results.”

The top price of the evening was $3.5 million for Baffled (Hip 104), the dam of multiple Grade 1 winning millionaire Constitution. Offered in foal to Constitution’s sire, Tapit, Baffled was purchased by Bridlewood Farm & Don Alberto Corp from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency.

“She’s got all, looks, triple graded stakes producer, in foal to the best stallion in America,” remarked Bridlewood’s George Isaacs. “We’re trying to develop a serious breeding program and she’s the goods. A little more than I wanted to pay, but the good ones cost.”

Baffled is also the dam of graded stakes winners Boynton and Jacaranda. The latter, offered as Hip 154, realized $2 million later in the evening when sold to Reynolds Bell, agent for Alpha Delta. Jacaranda was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm.

As she did so often in her career, Curalina (Hip 123) led an exception field of racing and/or broodmare prospects when sold for $3 million. Offered as a broodmare prospect, three-time G1 winner and millionaire Curalina was purchased by Shadhai Farm from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, agent. Curalina’s dam Whatdreamsrmadeof (Hip 100), offered by Brookdale Sales for Casa Farms and carrying a full sibling to Curalina, realized $1.65 million earlier in the evening when purchased by Summer Wind Equine.

Other prominent offerings included 2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) victress Stopchargingmaria (Hip 87), who brought $2.8 million as a broodmare prospect, and Love the Chase (Hip 59), dam of California Chrome, who sold for $1.95 million in foal to North America’s Leading Sire Tapit. Stopchargingmaria joined the broodmare band at Three Chimneys Farm, while John McCormack signed for Love the Chase. Both mares were consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Hip 25, a filly by Champion sire Galileo (IRE) earned the highest price of selected weanlings offered when sold for $550,000 early in the sale. By globally proven sire Galileo out of a Street Cry (IRE) daughter of Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, the filly’s international pedigree proved popular, and she was ultimately purchased by French-based company Meridian International from the consignment of Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent.

“It begins with the quality product that our consignors entrust in us,” Browning said when asked about the quality and composition of this year’s catalogue. “When someone places their confidence in you, that’s the greatest compliment you can get. But it’s also a responsibility. We take that responsibility really seriously.”

All told, 88 horses changed hands for a total of $54,152,000, an increase of 24% from 2015, when 92 horses were sold for $43,666,000. The average was $615,364, an increase of 29.7% from $474,630 in 2015. Significantly, the median was $377,500, up 59.6% from $235,000 in 2015. The RNA rate fell by 6.4%. Fifteen fillies and mares sold for $1 million or more.

ChinaHorse Club and SF Bloodstock made their presence felt on the buyer side, combining to purchase a total of 13 horses. ChinaHorse Club spent $5,520,000 on five hips, topped by $2.4 million G1 winner Embellish the Lace, sold carrying her first foal, by Uncle Mo. SF Bloodstock added eight to their stable grossing $3,845,000, topped by this year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Cathryn Sophia, purchased for $1.4 million.

Shayne Heffernan Funds Manager at HEFFX holds a Ph.D. in Economics and brings with him over 25 years of trading experience in Asia and hands on experience in Venture Capital, he has been involved in several start ups that have seen market capitalization over $500m and 1 that reach a peak market cap of $15b. He has managed and overseen start ups in Mining, Shipping, Technology and Financial Services.